Do all insurance plans have a deductible?
Short answer. No. Many insurance coverages have no deductible at all, but the property parts of a homeowners policy, covering your house, other structures and belongings, almost always do. Liability and medical payments to others in the same policy generally have no deductible.
Inside a homeowners policy
- Coverage A, dwelling: deductible applies. This is where roof claims fall.
- Coverage B, other structures: deductible applies, for a detached garage, fence or shed.
- Coverage C, personal property: deductible applies, though one deductible usually covers all parts of the same loss.
- Coverage D, loss of use: pays extra living costs when the home is unlivable after a covered loss; usually the property deductible has already been applied to the claim.
- Coverage E and F, liability and medical payments: generally no deductible.
- Scheduled valuables: items like jewelry listed on a rider often carry no deductible.
More than one deductible
Many Georgia policies carry an all perils deductible plus a separate wind and hail deductible, often written as a percentage of the dwelling limit. Roof claims from storms use the wind and hail deductible. See percentage wind and hail deductibles.
Other kinds of insurance
Auto liability usually has no deductible, while collision and comprehensive do. Some health plans have no deductible and rely on copays instead. Each policy's declarations page spells it out.
Why property coverage uses one
Deductibles keep small, routine repairs off the insurer's books and keep premiums lower. That is also why a minor roof repair often makes more sense paid directly. For when a roof claim is worth filing, see does homeowners insurance cover roof replacement.